Ilha de Tavira – General information
Ilha de Tavira (also known as Tavira Island) is an island near the town of Tavira. It is part of the natural park of Ria Formosa.
The beach on Ilha de Tavira is the closest beach to the town of Tavira, but also one of the busiest. Tavira Island is considered one of the best beaches of the Algarve. The island is highly rated on TripAdvisor and has been named the #1 thing to do in Tavira by its community.
Ilha de Tavira stretches for about 12 kilometres and is quite wide. The sand stretches as far as the eye can see. The beach is very sandy and has a white colour. Moreover, the beach is very clean. The sea water is calm and clean, which is ideal for families with children. However, the water is very cold, even in the peak of summer.
When you arrive on the island, you will have to walk a couple of minutes through a small pine forest. After 400 metres you will find yourself on the beach. This part of the beach can be quite crowded, especially in the summer. Even though it is crowded, there is always a spot for everyone. Moreover, if you are willing to walk a bit, the beach will get more and more deserted. This makes Ilha de Tavira a perfect beach for a long walk. If you walk far enough, there are even parts of the beach where nudism is legal. It is even possible to walk from the main beach until Praia do Barril (about 40 minutes walking).
The beach on Ilha de Tavira is very popular among families with children. Many Portuguese families love to spend their summer holidays here. The beach is also popular with tourists.
If you would like to experience Ilha de Tavira from the comfort of your home, it is possible to see how Tavira Island looks right now on webcam.
How to get there
It is only possible to reach Ilha de Tavira by boat or water taxi. You can take a boat from the centre of Tavira (Rua Jose Pires Padinha). The journey takes about 20 minutes. Otherwise, you can take a water taxi to the island fro Quatro Águas, which is about 2 kilometres from Tavira. It is quite easy to park your car there.
Ilha de Tavira – Facilities
There are quite a few facilities on Ilha de Tavira. You will find a supermarket, restaurants, bars, ATM’s and even a camping. The camping is open from May until September.
Facilities in Ilha de Tavira:
• Restaurant: yes
• Bar/club: yes
• Toilet: yes
• Shower: yes
• Water sports: yes
• Sunbeds: yes
• Parking: no
• Lifeguards: yes
• Blue flag beach: yes
